Gate-latch or the like.



Patented A191 13, 19115.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

THE NORRIS PETERS 00., PHONLITHO. WASHINGTON. D. Q

J. B. CLAY. GATE LATCH ()B THE LIKE. APPLICATiON FILED JULY 11. 1912.

Patented. Apr. 13, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

E NORRIS PETERS 60., PHo'm-LITHQ, WASHINGm JOSEPH B. CLAY, 0F CEDAR FALLS, IOWA.

GATE-LATCH OR THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 13, 1915.

Application filed. July 11, 1912. 7 Serial No. 708,780.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, Josnrrr B. CLAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cedar Falls, in the county of Blackhawk and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gate Latches or the like, of which the following is a description.

My invention belongs to that general class of devices known as gate latches or the like, and relates particularly to a gate latch adapted and suitable for use on tiltable swinging farm gates, similar to that shown in Letters Patent No. 1,017,248, issued to me on February 13, 1912, but its use, however, is not confined to that particular type of gate, and it may be used wherever found desirable.

The invention has among its objects the production of a device of the'kind described that is simple, durable, convenient, efficient, satisfactory, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture, and that is operable regardless of sagging of the gate posts or frame bars, or variation in the relative positions of the same, due to tilting the gate orfrom other causes.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described,

and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a side elevationof a gate with my latch applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the latch mechanism, a portion of the gate post and frame. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the gate latch, Fig. 4 is a top elevation of the same, Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2, the latch partly raised, and Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the arm raised, as shown in Fig. 5.

Referringto the drawings, 1 and 2 represent the fence or gate posts, 3 and f the end bars of the gate frame, and 5, 5 the cross bars of the gate frame, the gate shown for purpose of illustration being of the tilting type, in which the free or swinging end may be raised during the swinging of the gate, or at such other times as may be desired. lln the. gate shown, the end bar 3 of the frame is pivotally "supported and maintained in position relative to the fence post 2 by suitable supporting means. The crossbars 5, 5, of which there may be any number, arranged as desired, are preferablypiw otally secured to the two end bars 3 and 1, so that the gate may be tilted or raised in opening or closing, thereby avoiding any obstructions and preventing the bottom of the free end ofthe gate from dragging on the ground. It may also be tilted and latched so as to permit small stock passing under. The free end of the gate is preferably normally supported by a guy-wire or rod 4 the same being secured to the end bar 3 and arranged to adjustably coiiperate with the end bar 4. By means of this support the end post a may be held in any desired position relative to the ground. As most clearly shown in Fig. 1, the frame of the gate is provided with wires 5 extending between the end frame and bars 3 and l. The wire may be secured to the end pieces in any suitable manner. As shown, I extend it through the end bar 4 and bring the end 5 down and secure it'to the adjacent lower wire. The opposite ends may be adjustably secured to the end bar 3, if desired. The purpose of bringing the end 5 down, securing it as shown, will be more fully explained hereafter.

My preferred form of latch comprises a pair of latch bars or members 6 and 7, suitably mounted upon a plate 8 by straps 9, or their equivalents for the purpose. The

straps 9 may be secured to the plate by rivets 10, or their-equivalents, and are preferably offset so as to form a bearing for the shanks 6 and 7 of the latches 6 and 7 respectively, the straps being so inclined that the axis of rotation of the shanks are downwardly inclined toward each other, as most clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Normally, owing to gravity, the latches 6 and 7 fall into the positions shown in the drawing, and are maintained up or supported in that position by stops 11, which engage the plate when the latches are down. I preferably extend the lower ends of the stops 11 to form lifting arms 12, which may be substantially parallel, or in alinement with the latch members 6 and 7. I also provide stops 1 to limit the upward throw or movement of the latch members when they are thrown up, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2. The latch member on one side may be lifted from the opposite side of the gate by lifting upon the lifting arms 12. For this purpose I have shown cross lifting members or wires 13 and 14.

In operation, assuming that the device is open: If the gate is pushed shut or closed so as to strike the inwardly and upwardly inclined latch member nearest it, it will throw the same up into the position indicated in Fig. 2, and passing on, strikes the opposite latch member, the latch member thrown up will immediately fall, owing to gravity, or if it sticks, will be started by the jar, when the opposite member is struck, and drop back to normal position. The upward movement of the latch members is limited by the stops 15, and the downward movement by the stops 11. It should be understood that while the stops are shown on the latch members, they may, of course, be placed upon the plate 8. The operation is the same regardless from which side the gate is closed. To open the gate the latch member is raised, if from the side nearest it, with the hand or foot, and if on the opposite side of the gate, by means of the lifting member and arm. Owing to the difi erent ways the gate may be adjusted, as for example, by varying the supporting of the end bar 4, or byadjusting the position of the end bar 3 upon the post 2, or the sagging of the posts, the latch members do not always engage the end bar 4 at the same point. If the wire is brought around the end bar 4, secured to itself with some adjustment of the gate, there might be a tendency for the ends of the wire to prevent the latch member struck by the gate from rising. For this reason I preferably bring the end ofthe wire down to the lower adjacent wire and secure it there. When so secured the same does not, at any position of the gate, interfere with the latch member. From the above it will be noted that the latch is automatic in its operation, and 0wing to the inclination of the axis of pivotal connection with the plate, and the upwardly and inwardly inclined latch bar, when the same is struck by the gate, the same is immediately raised, and in so doing, one might say it gets out of the way of the gate until the gate is past the same. There is no tendency for the latch, which acts as the stop, to throw up when struck by the gate, as might be the case where the latch arms are not supported with their pivotal axis on an inclination. While the device is applicable to any. type of swing gate, or the like, it is particularly adapted for tilting gates, as it engages the gate and locks it regardless of whether the gate is in the position shown in vFig. 1, or supported at an angle, or tilted. The device does not have any tendency at any time to raise the outer end of the gate, so that it does not strain the gate frame or cause the outer end of the gate to draw away from the post 2, or be forced toward the same. It is not necessary that the gate posts 1 or 2, or. the gate frame posts 3 or 4, always be in the same relation to each other,

or exactly perpendicular, as the latch works the same.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention, hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement or combination of parts herein shown and described, or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the kind described and in combination, a suitable plate, a pair of oppositely formed latch arms, each arm consisting of a gate engaging part curved to normally extend upwardly and inwardly when secured in position on the plate, and a cylindrical bearing portion arranged at the pivoted end of said arm and provided at the free end thereof with an extended portion arranged to cooperate with the plate to form astop, and means for pivotally securing said arms on said plate with said bearing portions downwardly inclined toward each other.

2. In a device of the kind described and in combination, a suitable plate, a pair of oppositely formed latch arms, each arm consisting of a gate engaging part curved to extend upwardly and inwardly when secured in position on the plate, and a cylindrical bearing portion arranged at the pivoted end of said arm and provided with an extended portion arranged when the arms are in nor mally operative position to cooperate with the plate to form a supporting stop, a lifting arm, and means for securing said gate engaging arms to said plate with their axis of rotation inclined downwardly toward each other.

3. In a gate latch, the combination of a plate provided with a pair of gate engaging members, each member upwardly and inwardly inclined from the plate and provided with a transversely extending shank, means for securing said shanks to said plate with their axis of rotation downwardly inclined toward each other, each of said shanks provided with a supporting stop on its inner end and having an extended lifting arm thereon and a lifting member secured to said arm, and extending to the opposite side of the device.

4. In a gate latch, the combination of a plate provided with a pair of gate engaging members, each member upwardly and inwardly inclined from the plate and provided with a transversely extending shank, means for securing said shanks to said plate with their axis of rotation downwardly inclined toward each other, each of said shanks provided with a downwardly extended stop, and with a lifting arm extending therefrom 10 ing end for cooperation with the gate frame,

and the opposite or inner end downwardly extended to form a stop, and thence extended forward to form a lifting arm, and means for pivotally securing said shanks to the plate with their axis of rotation inclined downwardly toward each other.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JOSEPH B. CLAY.

Witnesses:

GEORGE F. W001), MARY E. SoRENsnN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). 0. 

